mine warfare vessel
A military vessel designed for mine warfare operations, such as minelaying or minesweeping.
Mine warfare vessels are one of the important assets of the Maritime Self-Defense Force.
掃海艇 specifically refers to a minesweeper, while 機雷艦艇 is a broader term for any vessel involved in mine warfare, including minelayers.
敷設艦 is a minelayer, a type of 機雷艦艇. 機雷艦艇 covers both minelayers and minesweepers.
Compound of 機雷 (mine, as in naval mine) and 艦艇 (naval vessel). The term is a modern military classification.